PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between lucas Araujo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Nahuelpan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Araujo
vs
Nahuelpan

182 cm
22
131 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, lucas Araujo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariel Nahuelpan!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araujo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nahuelpan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Araujo circles away.

Nahuelpan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Araujo sprawls well initially but Nahuelpan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nahuelpan trying to control the action but Araujo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nahuelpan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nahuelpan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Araujo is looking for a sweep. Nahuelpan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Araujo looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Nahuelpan pushes past his half guard into mount!
Nahuelpan cracks Araujo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nahuelpan landing strikes, looking to finish!

Araujo is rocked!
Araujo is trying desperately to improve position.
Nahuelpan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Araujo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Araujo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nahuelpan lands a big shot there that rocks Araujo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Araujo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Nahuelpan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araujo wants to control but Nahuelpan is having none of it.
Nahuelpan looking to control and managing it successfully.

Nahuelpan looking to secure an arm triangle but Araujo defends it well.
Nahuelpan looking to control but Araujo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nahuelpan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Araujo gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araujo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nahuelpan is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nahuelpan trying to control the action but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nice strikes from Nahuelpan there.
Nahuelpan is looking to take a break and control but Araujo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nahuelpan is pressing down on Araujo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Araujo is holding on for now.
Araujo is looking for a sweep. Nahuelpan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nahuelpan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nahuelpan in particular looking to stall.
Araujo is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nahuelpan has a takedown stuffed.
Nahuelpan looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Araujo tries a head kick but it misses.

Nahuelpan drives through with a takedown into guard.

Araujo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Nahuelpan stands and steps away. Araujo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nahuelpan wants to clinch.

Nahuelpan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nahuelpan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Araujo blocks it with crossed arms.
Araujo is looking to break free of the clinch but Nahuelpan has double underhooks.
Araujo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Araujo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nahuelpan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Araujo to the mat. Araujo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Araujo trying to control the position.
Araujo keeping moving, preventing Nahuelpan from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nahuelpan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nahuelpan controlling from the top position.

Araujo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nahuelpan stacks Araujo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Nahuelpan!
Nahuelpan is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nahuelpan is looking to take a break and control but Araujo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Nahuelpan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nahuelpan avoids the head kick by Araujo.
Araujo throws a head kick but Nahuelpan moves out of range.

Araujo gets caught flat footed, as Nahuelpan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Araujo wants to sweep here but Nahuelpan controlling him for the moment.
Nahuelpan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nahuelpan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Nahuelpan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nahuelpan wants to control from the top but Araujo keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nahuelpan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nahuelpan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nahuelpan trying to control but Araujo is working from the bottom.
Araujo can't keep his opponent in guard - Nahuelpan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Araujo is looking for a sweep. Nahuelpan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nahuelpan winds up and cracks Araujo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nahuelpan is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Araujo is refusing to be controlled, as Nahuelpan sits in half guard.
Araujo is looking for a sweep. Nahuelpan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ariel Nahuelpan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Araujo regains full guard. Nicely done.

Araujo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nahuelpan passes into half guard.
Nahuelpan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ariel Nahuelpan just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nahuelpan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Nahuelpan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Araujo struggling a bit here.
Nahuelpan trying to control the position but Araujo is working away.
Araujo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Nahuelpan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Araujo is desperately trying to improve his position but Nahuelpan has a good base and remains in mount.
Nahuelpan lands a heavy elbow.
Araujo is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Nahuelpan.
Nahuelpan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araujo is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
BOOM! Nahuelpan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nahuelpan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Araujo is looking to escape.
Araujo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Araujo is in a horrible position here. Nahuelpan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nahuelpan has control of Araujo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Araujo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Araujo is desperately trying to improve his position but Nahuelpan has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Nahuelpan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Araujo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nahuelpan gets a takedown into half guard.
Araujo is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nahuelpan jumps into side control!
Nahuelpan just content to control the position.
Araujo is looking to regain half guard here but Nahuelpan keeps moving and retains side control.
Nahuelpan trying to control the position but Araujo is working away.
Araujo tries to bench press Nahuelpan off him but Nahuelpan keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nahuelpan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Araujo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nahuelpan pulls his head out easily.
Nahuelpan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nahuelpan drops an elbow to the side of Araujo's head.

Nahuelpan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Araujo is trying to get back to full guard.

Araujo is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nahuelpan pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Nahuelpan is controlling well.

Araujo actively working from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nahuelpan pushes Araujo away with a front kick.

Nahuelpan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nahuelpan tries to control but Araujo wriggling away.
Araujo is desperately trying to improve his position but Nahuelpan has a good base and remains in mount.
Nahuelpan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
lucas Araujo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Araujo is trying desperately to improve position.
Nahuelpan controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araujo can't escape the position.
Nahuelpan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nahuelpan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Araujo tries to reverse the position but Nahuelpan maintains control.

Nahuelpan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Araujo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nahuelpan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Araujo regains half guard.
Nahuelpan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nahuelpan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Araujo wants to improve his position but Nahuelpan is controlling well.
Nahuelpan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nahuelpan is pressing down on Araujo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Araujo is holding on for now.
Araujo pushes Nahuelpan off looking to stand but Nahuelpan dives back in and keeps control.
Araujo is not content to let Nahuelpan control the position.
Nahuelpan passes to full mount!
Araujo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nahuelpan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ariel Nahuelpan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nahuelpan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Ariel Nahuelpan!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Ariel Nahuelpan!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Ariel Nahuelpan!

Ariel Nahuelpan wins by unanimous decision!